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 Resigns from Laura Ashley Under Threat of Protests Strikes Gold Mine Deal with Vicious Liberian Dictator |
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Compiled By GayToday
Washington, D.C.--On the heels of the collapse of his multi-million dollar
deal with the Bank of Scotland, the far-right political empire of
televangelist Pat Robertson was dealt yet another blow Wednesday.
Under the threat of an international protest like the one his Bank of Scotland deal faced, Robertson announced his abrupt resignation from the board of directors of Laura Ashley, a UK-based company. Robertson's position on the Laura Ashley board was the final high-profile mainstream affiliation left in Robertson's corporate portfolio, and his continued misfortune has sent chills through the far right.
In the meantime, according to reports from the Virginian Pilot, Robertson has struck a deal with Liberian President Charles Taylor, an accused embezzler, jail escapee, human rights abuser and rebel leader responsible for starting a bloody civil war. Taylor, say his opponents, can now add a new title to his resume: he has become Pat Robertson's business partner. The Robertson-Taylor deal allows a Robertson-owned company, Freedom Gold Ltd., to mine for gold in the Bukon Jedeh region of Liberia. The company, which lists Robertson as its president and sole director, was reportedly formed offshore in the Cayman Islands last December. The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State said: "Clearly, Robertson's greed knows no bounds… This gold-mining deal with a vicious tyrant is shocking even by Robertson's standards…If there's profit to be made, it seems Robertson doesn't care who he has to deal with…Despite all the rhetoric and grandstanding, this deal shows Robertson is more interested in money than morality."
Human rights observers have reported extensively on the appalling atrocities that took place during the seven years of fighting, including the killing, torture and forced labor of Liberian civilians. The Virginian Pilot reported one incident in which Taylor critic Samuel Dokie, his wife and two others were killed after being taken into custody by members of Taylor's special security bodyguards. Three weeks ago, Taylor temporarily removed virtually his entire Cabinet and several heads of public corporations after these employees failed to attend a prayer service ordered by Taylor. "Any government official who does not know God will not serve in my government," the Virginian Pilot quoted Taylor as saying." According to the Norfolk newspaper, the new financial deal will need ratification from the Liberian legislature. If it passes, the country's government will receive a 10 percent equity interest in Robertson's gold-mining company. After an exploration period, 15 percent of shares in the company will be available to Liberian investors. Robertson's interest in African mining is not new. In the early 1990s, another African dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, gave Robertson diamond-mining rights in Congo (a country then known as Zaire). That enterprise ultimately led to a Virginia state investigation when two pilots reported that Robertson relief planes intended for humanitarian purposes were actually used to transport equipment for the diamond-mining operation. The results of that investigation are still pending. Robertson, who heads the Christian Coalition and serves as president of the Christian Broadcasting Network, is claiming the gold-mining deal is intended to benefit the Liberian economy. |
